A 59-year-old man who went missing after his Ford Ranger was partially swept off a bridge in Komatipoort on April 27 has been identified as Gabriel Batista.

Lowvelder reports that he is the owner of Border Country Inn and reportedly lives in Gauteng.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo says DNA tests are being conducted to confirm whether the human remains found in a crocodile belong to Batista.

Search-and-rescue details

According to Captain Pottie Potgieter of the Ehlazeni Diving Unit, the deceased is believed to have drowned and was later consumed by a crocodile.

Potgieter has since been praised by acting national police commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane for his bravery during one of his most dangerous search-and-rescue missions.

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